Raymond George Czerwiec
Staff Sergeant
A CO, 3RD BN, 12TH INFANTRY, 4TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Chicago, Illinois
February 21, 1944 to April 28, 1976
(Incident Date March 27, 1969)
RAYMOND G CZERWIEC is on the Wall at Panel W28, Line 59

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15 June 2002

I have worn your bracelet for many years
and prayed for you, have shed tears.

I hope someday we will all know
if you are ever coming home.

GOD BLESS YOU WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.

From one who wears his MIA bracelet.
E-mail address is not available.


 
21 July 2002

I've worn your name since May 1988, when I received it in Germany. I've had to replace the original one because it broke due to wearing it In Your Memory. I wear two names, Yours and SGT Jerry W Hendrix. The two of you will be in my thoughts and prayers until ee meet one day.

Marty H.
E-mail address is not available.


 

THE MISSION

On 27 March 1969 "A" Company, 3/12th Infantry, was conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission in a mountainous area near the Cambodian border. The company encountered a heavily entrenched enemy force and was forced to withdraw with a number of people missing. A second unsuccessful attempt to enter the area was made on the afternoon of 27 March. At the end of the day eight men of Alpha 3/12 were unaccounted for:
  • SGT Raymond G. Czerwiec
  • PFC Robert S. Hardison (medic from HHC Co)
  • SP4 James R. Long
  • SGT Gail M. Kerns
  • CPL Willie D. Martinez
  • 1LT Anthony J. Urrutia
  • SP4 Rodney A. Vore
  • SGT David O. Wilson
A third attempt, also unsuccessful, was made on the 28th. At that point air strikes and artillery fire were placed on the enemy area for two days, with another ground assault on 30 March 1969. Alpha 3/12 lost six more men before being forced to withdraw:
  • SFC Arthur M. Bradberry
  • PFC James C. Fox
  • SP4 Johnny A. Gibson
  • SGT Charles M. Lamby
  • SP4 Clarence A. Latimer
  • SGT Fred D. Smith
The area was subjected to a week of intensive artillery and air strikes before additional ground forces were inserted. During a two-day sweep of the area the bodies of a number of missing soldiers were recovered, leaving three men of Alpha 3/12 missing in action:
  • SGT Raymond G. Czerwiec
  • SGT Gail M. Kerns
  • SP4 Clarence A. Latimer
Sergeant Gail Kerns had been captured and survived to be released with the other American POWs in February 1973, but he had no knowledge of Czerwiec or Latimer. The North Vietnamese never listed Czerwiec or Latimer as prisoners of war.

On 28 April 1976, the Secretary of the Army approved a Presumptive Finding of Death for Raymond Czerwiec; a similar action was taken on 31 August 1978 for Clarence Latimer. The remains of the two men have not been repatriated.


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